A Persimmon Homes employee is urging all home owners to have their properties inspected to make sure they are not missing essential fire safety barriers after claiming the problem is widespread.

The worker, who asked to remain anonymous, has alleged that although homes have been confirmed to have failed inspections in a housing development in Exeter, there are other sites which have the same issues.

The house builder has previously refused to answer vital questions about properties in one of its developments, Greenacres, and the Newcourt area near Topsham, including how many have failed vital fire safety barrier inspections.

The issue was exposed following a 'ferocious' blaze which broke out in Trafalgar Road off Admiral Way and Topsham Road, last April, which spread into the roof spaces of two of the adjoining properties.

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They said: “People need to be aware it has affected more than one development. I can name six sites where it has gone on, and Persimmon knew because I witnessed conversations where it was discussed, but it was glossed over.

“When Persimmon Homes purchase materials they buy enough to do each new build. If there’s some left over, like fire safety barriers, then you know it has not been put in.

“The morality side of it is Persimmon Homes need to be held to account.

“I can only speak for the South West as that’s the area I work in, but people need to check their homes. My worry is this could be a national problem. It’s appalling and shows you just don’t know what you’re buying.”

The extent of the fire safety barrier scandal in Exeter prompted resident Paul Frost, who also lives in Trafalgar Road and has more than 30 years’ experience in the building industry, to inspect his own property.

Paul Frost

He says he found it to be missing vital fire barriers in its cavity walls.

He says Persimmon Homes were originally unwilling to tell him how many homes they had inspected and had failed, so Paul asked residents to share their pass or fail inspections in order collate his own figures.

Of the 135 residents who have so far disclosed their inspection findings, he says 65 per cent have currently failed across the whole housing development.

When broken down by the age of properties, 50 out of 76 built within the past five years failed, amounting to a 65 per cent fail rate.

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Out of homes built five to nine years ago, 38 out of 58 failed which is also a 65 per cent fail rate, according to Mr Frost's data.

Persimmon Homes hit the headlines last year when former chief executive Jeff Fairburn left the company following huge controversy about its bonus scheme which is believed to be the most generous from a FTSE 100 company. In 2018, he had been in line for a £110m payout before it was scaled back to £75m in the face of political and public outrage.

When approached for a comment over the allegations made by the employee, a spokesperson for Persimmon Homes said: “Persimmon Homes will not comment on anonymous claims and allegations.

"The focus is on customers and as, has been stated repeatedly Persimmon Homes will liaise directly with them.”